Chapter 56

Chen Ke felt that he was not good at revolutionary agitation. Speaking itself is a skill, a kind of ability. This principle is simple, and Chen Ke had once tried it, with mixed results. He wasn't sure if it required too much innate talent, but the practical outcome was that Chen Ke believed action spoke louder than words. The purpose of speaking is to take action; a new world cannot be built with words alone. This is why, after meeting Pang Zi for the first time, Chen Ke did not try to persuade this chivalrous hero with all his might.

Pang Zi's willingness to come to Beijing this time was truly beyond Chen Ke's expectations. It seemed that Wu Xingchen had put in a lot of effort. Chen Ke did not think he could completely guide Pang Zi onto the revolutionary path. Rebelling in Hebei would directly face the pressure of the Beiyang government. Even if Chen Ke himself stayed in Hebei, he would not be arrogant enough to believe he could defeat the Beiyang army at this stage. However, Chen Ke was unwilling to simply deceive and abandon Pang Zi and the other chivalrous heroes who came with him. With this attitude, Chen Ke discussed the rebellion with Pang Zi.

Pang Zi began to introduce how he met Wu Xingchen, and Wu Xingchen provided a lot of information on the side. From the Boxer Rebellion in the Gengzi Year, to the bloody battles in Beijing, and then the rebellion in Shandong. Chen Ke was not very interested in these events. Rebellions in those days were all similar, and history books recorded them in even more detail. At first, Chen Ke asked a few questions, but later he remained silent, his expression cold and his brows slightly furrowed. His thoughts were entirely focused on the reasons for the rebellion's failure.

Chen Tianhua, who was sitting next to Chen Ke, was deeply moved. Rebellions in the south were small-scale, and many did not even have a chance to start before they were crushed. In the narratives of Pang Zi and Wu Xingchen, the uprisings led by Zhao San duo and Jing Tingbin, where the rebels fought against the Qing army and attacked churches, formed a massive rebel force of 160,000 people spanning 24 counties across Zhili, Shandong, and Henan provinces. The Zhili governor, Yuan Shikai, immediately dispatched Duan Qirui and Feng Guozhang to lead the Qing army to Ji and Guangzong, suppressing the rebels on a large scale and personally directing the battle. Moreover, 6,000 German, French, and Japanese invaders assisted in the suppression. The impact in Shandong and Hebei was far beyond Chen Tianhua's imagination. Wu Xingchen, who usually appeared rather cold and even a bit sarcastic, was someone Chen Tianhua had never liked. Now, such thoughts had long flown away. Wu Xingchen had such a passionate and intense past. As Pang Zi and Wu Xingchen took turns speaking, Chen Tianhua's gaze kept switching between their faces.

This time, not only Pang Zi and Wu Xingchen came, but six people in total, the other four being old comrades who had rebelled with Zhao San duo. At first, they were not very talkative, but after listening to Pang Zi for a while, they could not help but join in the conversation.

Wu Xingchen's tall and round face had an indescribable sense of melancholy. Besides supplementing Pang Zi's introduction, he was also observing Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua. Chen Ke evoked a complex emotion in Wu Xingchen. Their initial meeting was not very pleasant, and their later cooperation was not very heartfelt. Chen Ke gave Wu Xingchen the impression of a cold guy. Although Chen Ke often smiled, he was certainly not a bad person. However, Chen Ke's enthusiasm for inciting revolution made Wu Xingchen feel extremely dangerous. Wu Xingchen had crawled out of piles of corpses. In Beijing and Shandong, if Wu Xingchen had not been sufficiently vigilant and had not fled when he sensed something was wrong, his head would likely have been hanging somewhere long ago.

After years of wandering and repeated failures, Wu Xingchen had once thought he was exhausted and unwilling to rebel anymore. Living in Shanghai, eating and waiting to die might have been a good thing. But every time he recalled the deaths of his friends and teachers, the hatred in Wu Xingchen's chest for the Qing and foreigners boiled over even more. Learning that the People's Party was planning a rebellion was the reason Wu Xingchen decided to join. When he learned that Pang Zi and the old comrades were preparing to "make some noise," Wu Xingchen pulled Chen Ke over. Even after learning that Chen Ke and Pang Zi did not get along well, Wu Xingchen still tried his best to persuade these brothers, hoping Chen Ke would discuss the rebellion with Pang Zi. Despite his outward coldness, Wu Xingchen actually had a lot of respect for Chen Ke.

Unconsciously, Pang Zi had already choked up as he spoke. "In May, I was in Hebei, and Brother Wu was in Shandong. Both forces were defeated. Uncle Zhao San duo starved to death in the Nan Gong prison, and Uncle Jing Tingbin was executed by slicing." As he finished speaking, Pang Zi burst into tears. The other four Shandong heroes looked angry and sad, tears streaming down their faces. Chen Tianhua's eyes were also filled with tears, his shoulders trembling, and he was choked up, unable to speak. In this sorrowful atmosphere, Chen Ke and Wu Xingchen remained silent. Wu Xingchen clenched his teeth, eyes tightly closed, his face showing pain. Chen Ke's fists were tightly clenched, his lips pressed together, turning white, his face ashen, and his eyes burning with cold flames.

After a long while, Chen Tianhua finally managed to speak, wiping away his tears, he said, "What a heroic deed! Kill the Qing demons! Kill the foreign religion! These two elders were truly great heroes! I was in the south at the time and didn't know about such a heroic act! Alas! I only regret that I couldn't fight alongside my brothers back then!"

After a long time, Pang Zi finally calmed down. His eyes were red, and his eyes were filled with tears. "Mr. Chen, last time you gave me two options: a big rebellion or a small one. You clearly said that a small rebellion would lead to death. I scolded you then. But after you left, every time I thought about rebelling, I couldn't help but remember your words."

The history books did not record much about this rebellion, and Chen Ke naturally did not know about Pang Zi's experience. Hearing Pang Zi mention it, Chen Ke quickly said, "Brother Pang, I was too harsh."

"No, Mr. Chen, you were right. I thought about it repeatedly. If I had a small rebellion, I would end up like the two uncles, and I wouldn't win. So, Brother Wu persuaded me to come to Beijing to hear what Mr. Chen had to say."

Chen Ke lowered his head, wondering how to explain the revolution to Pang Zi. This really stumped Chen Ke. From the looks of it, Pang Zi and the others were not planning a small rebellion. In fact, not long after, the 1912 Bai Lang rebellion was on a scale and intensity similar to Jing Tingbin's rebellion, and it was also suppressed by the Beiyang army in 1914. History had already proven that without the leadership of the party and a well-organized structure, the rebellions of the northern heroes would fail.

"Brother Pang, I definitely want to help you rebel. Brother Wu said we are revolutionaries. Since we are revolutionaries, planning a rebellion is our duty," Chen Ke said, raising his head.

"Then how should we rebel?" Pang Zi asked eagerly.

"Why do you want to rebel?" Chen Ke asked very seriously. This was a big question. Without finding a true reason for the revolution, acting out of temporary anger would not last in the face of organized suppression. This had been proven countless times in Chinese history.

As Chen Ke had guessed, Pang Zi answered firmly, "Destroy the Qing, destroy the foreigners!"

"Why do you want to destroy the Qing and the foreigners?" Chen Ke pressed.

"The Qing and the foreigners oppress the people. Those foreign religions do all sorts of bad things, and the Qing helps them do bad things."

"Why does the Qing help them?"

"This..." Pang Zi was at a loss. He frowned, thinking for a moment, but could not explain it. He looked at Chen Ke, then turned to Wu Xingchen. Wu Xingchen was about to speak, but Chen Ke shook his head slightly. Wu Xingchen held back his words.

Unlike his outward coldness, Wu Xingchen found Chen Ke's party lessons very enlightening. After experiencing great hardships, Wu Xingchen had to face those memories and think about why they had suffered such a terrible defeat. Chen Ke's party lessons provided a way to think about these issues. If compared, Wu Xingchen was one of the top two people in the party who understood Chen Ke's lectures. The reason Wu Xingchen did not show his admiration was due to the long-term failures that made him more cautious.

Without Wu Xingchen's clear guidance, Pang Zi felt he could not explain it clearly. He finally gave up and said, "Brother Wu, I can't remember what you said a few days ago. Can you say it again?"

After a moment, seeing that Wu Xingchen was silent, Pang Zi felt very dissatisfied. He looked at Chen Ke, "Mr. Chen, you intellectuals are so indecisive. If you want to help me, just say it clearly. What's the point of being so vague?"

"If I tell you and you don't take it to heart, and you don't understand it, then it's all for nothing," Chen Ke replied.

Pang Zi hated Chen Ke's attitude the most. He was naturally impatient, and today, talking about sad things, his emotions were even more unstable. "If you don't want to say, don't just stand there and act superior." With that, Pang Zi stood up and glared at Chen Ke.

Chen Ke calmly looked at the agitated Pang Zi and slowly said, "Brother Pang, if I were to say it, your talk of destroying the Qing and the foreigners is just what you learned from Uncle Zhao and Uncle Jing. You repeat what they say. Your true intention is just to seek revenge. Am I wrong?"

Hearing Chen Ke speak his thoughts, Pang Zi was stunned. Chen Ke continued, "If you could kill Yuan Shikai and the magistrate of Nan Gong, even if it cost you your life, you would do it."

Hearing this, Pang Zi became excited and asked urgently, "Mr. Chen, do you have a way to kill these two people?"

"Brother Pang, this is where you fall short of Uncle Zhao and Uncle Jing," Chen Ke said calmly. "They fought the church and killed those priests and foreign believers for the sake of everyone. You are doing it for your own revenge. That's why tens of thousands of brothers followed the two uncles. Even if you use their slogans, you are not doing what they did. If you just want to seek revenge, you won't be able to gather many people in Nan Gong."

These words deeply hurt Pang Zi, and he immediately became angry. He pointed his finger at Chen Ke, his face red with anger, "You bastard!"

The morning light grew brighter. Chen Ke blew out the candle, stretched a big yawn, and looked at the stack of manuscripts he had written. After the incident with Pang Zi last night, Chen Ke was not bothered. Wu Xingchen had scolded Pang Zi when he stood up. Chen Ke did not hold a grudge and persuaded Wu Xingchen. He announced that he would give lectures every morning. Although Pang Zi was不服气 (unconvinced), since he had come, he could not just storm out. Moreover, everyone was tired from traveling from Xingtai to Beijing, so Chen Ke let everyone rest. Pang Zi left the main room in a huff.

Chen Ke could not just lie down. He started writing the manuscript. This was about the rural revolution, and although Chen Ke did not know much about the rural conflicts at the end of the Qing dynasty, the basic contradictions could not have changed much. Since Pang Zi and the others were planning to rebel, they would not become lackeys of the landlords. So, Chen Ke could express his thoughts freely and wrote the land revolution program boldly.

I hope these things can really make a big difference, Chen Ke thought.

The weather was quite cool, and Chen Ke put on several layers of clothes while writing. By now, he felt very uncomfortable. He went into the bedroom, took off his clothes, and prepared to take a bath. Looking at Wu Xingchen and Chen Tianhua, who were still sleeping, Chen Ke decided to send Chen Tianhua to the Hebei countryside for a social survey. Without a survey, there is no right to speak. Although the theoretical guidance in Chen Ke's manuscript was correct, the specific situation would not be so simple. To formulate a reasonable plan for the rebellion, more detailed information was needed.

The theoretical education for the rebellion would not take long. Chen Ke was very busy in Beijing, and Chen Tianhua could play a significant role during the lectures. Especially after the lectures, Chen Tianhua could play a crucial role in the work in the Hebei countryside. Chen Ke had brought Chen Tianhua to leverage his propaganda skills, and sending him to the countryside should not be a problem.

After confirming Chen Tianhua's assignment, Chen Ke's gaze fell on Wu Xingchen. He had not expected this frustrated hall master in Shanghai to have such an experience. Chen Ke had not thought about this. Although he knew Wu Xingchen had an extraordinary background, participating in a rebellion of tens of thousands of people was not something ordinary people could do. Wu Xingchen's enthusiasm for the party lessons far exceeded Chen Ke's expectations. Now, Chen Ke understood. According to the party's organizational rules, where there are three party members, a party meeting should be held. He would have a good talk with Wu Xingchen at the party meeting. There was no need to rush. With this thought, Chen Ke picked up the porcelain basin to take a bath.

The water was warm compared to the cool air. As the water splashed, Chen Ke suddenly remembered that he still had the honeycomb coal project to handle. Before coming to Beijing, he had not expected that things would be so extensive. He had to manage several tasks simultaneously. However, with more people, the strength was greater. Seeing the labor of these heroes was also a good test.

The sound of the water startled the others, and they all got up. Chen Ke saw Pang Zi come out first. "Brother Pang, good morning!" Chen Ke greeted. Pang Zi responded with a dark face and headed straight for the toilet. The official's courtyard was different, with a dedicated toilet. When Pang Zi came out, Chen Ke had already finished washing. Looking at Chen Ke's muscular body, Pang Zi suddenly asked, "I heard Mr. Chen is also a martial artist?"

"A little bit."

"Can I learn from you?"

"Brother Pang, if it's just a friendly match, I'm always ready. If you want to determine a winner, I won't agree," Chen Ke said with a smile.

Pang Zi laughed, "Mr. Chen, you intellectuals like to show off. Don't use words I don't understand. Are you going to fight or not?"

"Right now."

The sound of the shower and their conversation startled everyone. With the sky already bright, everyone got up. Learning that the two were going to fight, everyone was very interested. The courtyard was flat, and Pang Zi was only wearing pants, bare-chested. The young men, all martial artists, had well-built bodies. Everyone stood back, watching intently.

Facing each other, they bowed simultaneously. As Chen Ke lowered his arm, Pang Zi leaped forward, punching at Chen Ke's chest. Chen Ke blocked with his left arm and pushed at Pang Zi's ribs with his right palm. Pang Zi used the force of Chen Ke's block to dodge, sweeping low. Both fought with large, open movements, exchanging punches and kicks.

Although the punches and kicks were powerful, Chen Tianhua felt that they were just playing around, not aiming for vital points. Pang Zi's footwork was light, and in seven or eight moves, he had circled around Chen Ke. Each time, Chen Ke would sweep his leg to keep Pang Zi at bay. After being pushed back a few times, Pang Zi got excited. He circled around Chen Ke again, and when Chen Ke lifted his leg to sweep, Pang Zi quickly stepped back, avoiding Chen Ke's leg, then stepped forward and slapped at Chen Ke's armpit. Seeing Chen Ke unable to dodge, Pang Zi was surprised when Chen Ke, on one leg, grabbed his wrist, pulled, and threw him, almost lifting him off the ground and throwing him to the ground.

"Damn!" Pang Zi lay on the ground, cursing, then jumped up, "Brother Chen, that move was good." Pang Zi said. Without waiting for a response, he pounced again.

This time, their moves were not as impressive, but Chen Tianhua felt a heavier killing intent. Looking at Wu Xingchen, Wu Xingchen's expression was serious, his brows slightly furrowed, and he was silent. The others also had similar expressions. Looking at the two fighting, they were getting closer, using fists, palms, and elbows to attack vital points, the sounds of their strikes rapid and intense. Just listening to the sounds, Chen Tianhua felt the pain. After about thirty or forty moves, Chen Ke and Pang Zi both pushed each other's chests, then stepped back, separating.

"Brother Chen, you won," Pang Zi said, laughing happily.

"Winning one move doesn't count as winning. I'm just a showman, and I haven't toughened my body much. I think Brother Pang's punches are harder. One punch from you, and I can't take it," Chen Ke said with a smile.

Pang Zi smiled proudly but did not respond. They bowed to each other again and separated.

"Brother Pang, your martial arts have improved a lot compared to a few years ago," Wu Xingchen said, approaching.

"Mr. Chen, what was that all about?" Chen Tianhua, who could understand the initial fight but not the close combat, asked eagerly.

"When Mr. Chen hit my vital points, he didn't use force. We continued with the next moves. If it were a real fight, it would be over in a few punches. How could it last